Scouting Davinson Sanchez: Rising tower of a centre-back

Even though he has missed out on the spotlight, Davinson Sanchez is enjoying quite an outstanding season in the Dutch top flight.

Following his move from Atletico Nacional to Ajax last summer, a few of us were unconvinced about the sort of player he would turn out to be due to the little publicity there is of Colombian football.

However, the 20-year-old has put all doubts to bed, cementing a place in the Ajax starting eleven while forcing Joel Veltman to be moved over to a right-back role in the process.

The fact that he was partnered up with the fairly experienced Nick Viergever meant his period of adaptation did not last as long as you would expect from a youngster coming straight out of South American football.

Sanchez has displayed more than glimpses of the reliable defender he is bound to become through a combination of aggressive pressing and smart tackling.

His upbringing in the Colombian environment also appears to have given him a fearless mentality and for a centre-back or full-back, that is an essential incentive to have.

In addition to that, he poses a major threat on set-pieces in a similar fashion to how legendary Ajax centre-back Frank De Boer used to trouble opposing players in the air.

Even so, there have been clear signs on certain occasions that Sanchez is some distance away from being the finished product but at 20 years old, he will only get better.

A few rough edges in his game are still apparent, especially when it comes to proper positioning during moments when Ajax are chasing the game.

Peter Bosz is certainly not one of the most tactically astute managers you will find in terms of setting up a team to defend well and remain organized.

That is perhaps the reason why not only Sanchez, but a majority of the Ajax back-line are exposed here and there in games against opponents who possess penetrative fire power.

Ajax are traditionally a club which produces both top-notch defenders and goalscorers but over the past decade or so, their coaching unit has laid more emphasis on the attacking aspect of the game.

Therefore, Sanchez might just be better off at a club with a manager who is more renowned for nurturing defenders through his tactical approach.

And with Chelsea apparently in pursuit of Sanchez, Antonio Conte is perhaps his best fit if the Colombian youngster is intent on enhancing his defensive know-how.

Even though he has missed out on the spotlight, Davinson Sanchez is enjoying quite an outstanding season in the Dutch top flight.
Following his move from Atletico Nacional to Ajax last summer, a few of us were unconvinced about the sort of player he would turn out to be due...